Digital BW, The Print

Alistair Owens "hp9180profile" <owens@...> wrote:


>... I am going through a similar exercise at the moment. 
> My objective is a smooth printing BW 
> neutral (but tonable from cool to warm) with good 
> archival qualities (but not the driving objective).
 
> I have an R1800 for the project and am using MIS inks. Two things I 
> found out really quickly is the R1800's propensity for banding 
> (although this is only with MIS rather than OEM inks) and the 
> MIS inks propensity to clog. These two factors have nearly 
> driven me to abandon the project but I have continued to an extent.

I'm sort of in the same boat.  I just don't think the 1800 is worth 
the effort.  The 1400 is so good with MIS ink -- no banding or 
clogging with at least mine -- that I have mothballed the 1800.  


>  I am finding that I am getting good results 
> from a full color inkset, profiled with COlorvision's extended gray 
> patches and then given a second pass of full GLOP.

This RGB, Epson driver approach probably results in a mostly-color-
inks print image, which would not be something I'd be comfortable 
with for long term stability.

I assume people have tried to do a QTR approach with just the MK, 
toned with C & M to reach neutral. This would be more stable, but I'm 
not sure if the 1800 can do so smoothly.  I frankly doubt it.

 
> With all the color that has to be mixed or fired in a BW print to 
> achieve neutrality with PK, is there any point in messing about 
> further.

Getting the color inks to a minimum is a worthy cause.  If you're 
happy with what you're seeing and not concerned with long term tonal 
stability, there may be no reason to do any more.


For those who do want a more carbon rich print, the PK warmth is 
surely a pain.  One can spray an Eboni-on-glossy paper print and 
achieve neutrality, but spraying is a pain also.

That is what makes the HP grays interesting.  They may have lots of 
color in them also, but the Wilhelm tests of HP colors are 
impressive.  The net result may be the most stable neutral glossy 
approach.  (It's also a more known pigment -- supported by tests.)  
It dilutes in the generic materials, but it too will band in the 
1800.  So, once again, I run into that 1800 issues.  I may pull the 
2200 into action for testing an HP dilution approach.  Achieving this 
for large format is my ultimate goal anyway, so messing with the 1.5 
pl 1800 is just not a very suitable platform for me.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com